Why Do I Keep Getting the Same Sports Injury? Understanding Recurring Pain

You take a break, start feeling better, and return to your usual workouts, only to have the same pain come back. Recurring sports injuries can be frustrating, but understanding what may be contributing to them can help you make more informed decisions about recovery.

Why Do Sports Injuries Keep Coming Back?

Several factors may contribute to recurring sports injuries, including:

• Returning too soon: Pain may improve before strength, endurance, and physical function have fully recovered.
• Increasing activity too quickly: A sudden increase in workout intensity, duration, or frequency may place more demand on your body than it's ready to handle [1].
• Lingering weakness: Reduced strength, balance, or coordination may affect your ability to perform sport-specific movements.
• Insufficient recovery: Inadequate rest between demanding workouts may make it harder to tolerate training.
• Skipping rehabilitation: Rest alone may not fully prepare you for the jumping, sprinting, lifting, or changes in direction required by your sport.

The reason an injury returns can vary depending on the type of injury, your activity level, and your individual recovery. Pain returning doesn't automatically mean the original injury never healed.

How Can You Help Prevent Recurring Injuries?

Although no approach can prevent every injury, a few strategies may help support recovery:

• Return gradually: Increase activity in stages rather than immediately resuming your previous training intensity.
• Rebuild strength: Targeted exercises may help restore the strength and control needed for your sport.
• Monitor your training: Pay attention to changes in workout intensity and whether symptoms return after particularly demanding sessions.
• Address recurring pain: If the same symptoms keep returning, an assessment may help identify contributing factors and guide your next steps.

Return-to-sport decisions often consider strength, function, symptoms, and sport-specific demands rather than relying on time alone [2,3].

Can Chiropractic Care and Physical Therapy Help?

Chiropractic care and physical therapy may help address certain musculoskeletal conditions associated with sports injuries, depending on the cause of your symptoms and your individual needs.

Physical therapy may involve strengthening exercises, mobility work, balance training, and a gradual return to sport-specific activities. Chiropractic care may include spinal or joint manipulation and other conservative approaches when appropriate.

A chiropractor or physical therapist can assess your symptoms, movement, and recovery goals to help determine which treatment options may be appropriate for you.

At Buffalo Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, an individualized evaluation may help you better understand your recurring pain and explore care options that support your recovery and activity goals.

When Should You Seek Help for a Recurring Sports Injury?

If the same pain keeps returning when you exercise, it may be worth getting an assessment rather than repeatedly resting and restarting your routine. Persistent pain, swelling, weakness, or difficulty performing your usual activities may indicate that further evaluation is needed.

Chiropractic care and physical therapy may help address certain musculoskeletal conditions, depending on the cause of your symptoms. A chiropractor or physical therapist can assess your needs and help determine whether treatment, rehabilitation exercises, activity modifications, or further medical evaluation may be appropriate.

If you experience severe pain, significant swelling, an obvious deformity, or an inability to bear weight after an injury, seek immediate medical attention.

The Bottom Line

If the same sports injury keeps coming back, it may be worth looking beyond the pain itself. Training demands, incomplete recovery, and lingering strength or mobility limitations may all play a role.

With appropriate rehabilitation, individualized care, and a gradual return to activity, you may be able to reduce the likelihood of recurring problems and return to the activities you enjoy.

If recurring pain is interfering with your workouts or sports participation, contact Buffalo Chiropractic & Physical Therapy at 716.892.8811 to learn more about your chiropractic and physical therapy options.

References

1. Soligard T, et al. How much is too much? International Olympic Committee consensus statement on load in sport and risk of injury. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016;50:1030–1041. Read the study
2. Ardern CL, et al. 2016 Consensus statement on return to sport from the First World Congress in Sports Physical Therapy, Bern. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2016;50:853–864. Read the study
3. Herring SA, et al. Team Physician Consensus Statement: Return to Sport/Return to Play—2023 Update. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 2024;56:767–775. Read the study

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.